Phillip Rich joined Florida Atlantic University's development staff as the director of major gifts for the football stadium campaign in January of 2011. Rich was elevated to Assistant Athletics Director for Development and then in 2014 he once again was rewarded by being named Associate AD.

Rich came to FAU as the Owls' 30,000-seat football stadium is in its construction phase, with the grand opening scheduled for mid-October. In his previous position as a fundraiser for the Knights' football stadium at the UCF, he was responsible for revenue totaling $1 million in premium seating areas and more than $500,000 in luxury suites.

Prior to UCF, Rich began his professional career at the Orange Bowl Committee in March 1998. Rich's initial position as administrative assistant to the chief executive officer allowed him to excel quickly to the director of administration, a position he held until his departure in 2006. Rich received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from the University of Arizona.

The FAU stadium is the centerpiece of FAU's Innovation Village, located in the north central area of campus. Home of the Owl football team, the open-air stadium, a $70 million project, is slated to feature 6,000 premium seats, including 24 suites, 26 loge boxes, 1,000 premier club seats and 4,000 priority club seats, and the latest, state-of-the-art amenities.